Romance scams are on the rise – especially on dating platforms like fdating, Badoo and Lovoo. We explain the most common schemes in 2026, how to identify scammers and what you can do in an emergency.
Romance scams are one of the most insidious forms of online fraud. Perpetrators create fake profiles on dating platforms like fdating, Badoo, Lovoo or Bumble – often with stolen photos of attractive people – and build an emotional connection with their victims over weeks or months.
The goal is always the same: money. Once trust is established, the perpetrators begin making demands for money – often under the pretext of an emergency: an accident, a hospital bill, a plane ticket to finally meet the victim in person.
The scammer pretends to work abroad – often as a military member, doctor on a ship or engineer on an oil rig. A personal meeting is unfortunately never possible. After weeks of chatting, the first demand for money follows.
A particularly sophisticated variant from Southeast Asia: The scammer builds a relationship and then persuades the victim to invest in a supposedly lucrative crypto platform. Small profits are paid out to build trust – then everything disappears.
The victim is contacted by a supposed woman who claims to be registered with an agency. To continue chatting or meet, the victim must pay fees to the agency. This agency does not exist, of course.
After weeks of contact, the scammer suddenly reports an urgent emergency: hospital bill, visa fees, blocked bank account. The emotional bond is supposed to prevent the victim from thinking critically.
The best defense is knowledge. Check suspicious profiles, phone numbers or email addresses for free and anonymously on Scammyfy – our database contains hundreds of verified scam reports from Germany and abroad.
Always remember: No serious person will ask you for money before you have met them in person.